Prime Factors
- Episode aired Mar 20, 1995
- TV-PG
- 46m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
The crew encounters a hedonistic alien race with the ability to travel through the galaxy at will -- an ability that may be the key to Voyager's returning home.The crew encounters a hedonistic alien race with the ability to travel through the galaxy at will -- an ability that may be the key to Voyager's returning home.The crew encounters a hedonistic alien race with the ability to travel through the galaxy at will -- an ability that may be the key to Voyager's returning home.
Roxann Dawson
- Lt. B'Elanna Torres
- (as Roxann Biggs-Dawson)
Robert Picardo
- The Doctor
- (credit only)
Derek Anthony
- Operations Division Officer
- (uncredited)
Kimberly Auslander
- Command Division Ensign
- (uncredited)
Majel Barrett
- Voyager Computer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Allan Bragg
- Sikarian
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDue to their disappointment with the Sikarians, Voyager's team of writer-producers ultimately discarded their initial plans to make those aliens recurring antagonists.
- GoofsWhen Janeway reports to the bridge in response to Chakotay's call that they are receiving a distress signal, Chakotay says the alien ship is about 200,000 km away. Janeway then orders "Slow to impulse." If Voyager is moving faster than impulse, it is at warp. Warp 1, the speed of light, is approximately 300,000 km per second, so they flashed by that distress signal long ago.
- Quotes
Captain Kathryn Janeway: You can use logic to justify almost anything. That's its power - and its flaw.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force (2000)
Featured review
Does logic overrule morality?
This is a strong episode and I do not know why it is rated so poorly.
The Voyager encounters a species, that finds joy in helping others and being hospitable. When the crew finds out that they possess a technology that allows travelling 40.000 light years by bending space, they see this as an opportunity to travel half the distance back to home in a matter of seconds. Naturally they ask this species if they will share this technology with them. But just like Starfleet has the Prime Directive and does not share sophisticated technology with lesser evolved species, a similar rule exists on this species' planet. One of the magistrates denies them this technology which causes a dispute among the Voyager crew.
While Janeway realizes that they are now the lower evolved species on the other side of the fence that is denied technology and progress and if they would not follow their rules, their own Prime Directive would become meaningless and pointless. Everything in what they believe in as Stafleet officers would fall apart if they would selfishly try to get hold on this technology by disobeying the wishes and the codex of this alien species.
Some crew members though take actions into their own hands. And when they are contacted by a member of the alien species that is willing to trade their technology for the library of the Voyager, they see an opportunity to get closer to home - no matter if this means throwing their own morality overboard.
Especially the ending of this episode is very strong and Janeway shows the best character study so far in season 1. When she tells Tuvok why she needs him as a moral compass and that his logic failed him this time, her acting performance is spot on and portrays the inner struggle she fights: Following the morality codex that made her being a Starfleet officer in the first place or keeping her promise to her crew: bringing them all home - no matter what.
The Voyager encounters a species, that finds joy in helping others and being hospitable. When the crew finds out that they possess a technology that allows travelling 40.000 light years by bending space, they see this as an opportunity to travel half the distance back to home in a matter of seconds. Naturally they ask this species if they will share this technology with them. But just like Starfleet has the Prime Directive and does not share sophisticated technology with lesser evolved species, a similar rule exists on this species' planet. One of the magistrates denies them this technology which causes a dispute among the Voyager crew.
While Janeway realizes that they are now the lower evolved species on the other side of the fence that is denied technology and progress and if they would not follow their rules, their own Prime Directive would become meaningless and pointless. Everything in what they believe in as Stafleet officers would fall apart if they would selfishly try to get hold on this technology by disobeying the wishes and the codex of this alien species.
Some crew members though take actions into their own hands. And when they are contacted by a member of the alien species that is willing to trade their technology for the library of the Voyager, they see an opportunity to get closer to home - no matter if this means throwing their own morality overboard.
Especially the ending of this episode is very strong and Janeway shows the best character study so far in season 1. When she tells Tuvok why she needs him as a moral compass and that his logic failed him this time, her acting performance is spot on and portrays the inner struggle she fights: Following the morality codex that made her being a Starfleet officer in the first place or keeping her promise to her crew: bringing them all home - no matter what.
helpful•21
- tomsly-40015
- Dec 8, 2023
Details
- Runtime46 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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